Mechanism of platelet-rich plasma in promoting bone defect repair

Abstract

The aim of work was to study the mechanism of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in promoting the repair of lacunar bone defects in the lower extremities of rabbits. PRP was first prepared, and PRP and artificial bone were mixed into PRP gel at a ratio of 2:1. Forty-nine healthy New Zealand white rabbits were selected, and unified standard PRP was prepared using the blood collected from one of these rabbits. The other rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, a PRP group (the bone defect area was filled with PRP gel) and an artificial group (the bone defect area was filled with only artificial bone). At weeks 3, 5, 7 and 9 post-operation, the animals were sacrificed, and the bone defect repair was observed by gross observation, X-ray, pathological and immunohistochemical methods. The bone repair of each group was scored, and the barrier density value in the bone defect area and the proportion of positive staining of the immunohistochemical sections were recorded. The results showed that the wound healing of the two groups was good, and the radiological score and the value of refractive density were significantly different between the two groups at weeks 3, 5 and 7 post-surgery (P < 0.05). Both gross observation and HE staining showed that healing of the bone defect in the PRP group was better than that in the artificial group, and the proportion of positive staining of the immunohistochemical sections in the PRP group was higher than that in the artificial group at weeks 3 and 5 post-operation. In conclusion, PRP can promote repair and healing of bone defects. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important stimulating factor for early bone regeneration.